Do you ever just need a break? I'm talking about totally unplugging and getting away? I did. I really, really did. So we booked ourselves a trip through Airbnb to North Carolina and stayed on a wonderful farm tucked away in the mountains.

Airbnb is similar to a travel search site like Orbitz that you may use to find a hotel in a specific location. Except instead of staying in a hotel you can stay in a private room in someone's home, book an entire home to yourself, or stay in cabins and other neat accommodations such as a luxury tree house.

I've been using Airbnb since 2012 and typically prefer to book an accommodation this way rather than through a hotel. Some of the perks are: affordability, uniqueness, and you get to experience your travel destination like a local. I've stayed in some pretty fantastic places: the world's most charming home in Buffalo NY, an apartment in the heart of NYC, a hidden gem on the water in Ft. Meyers, a fantastic flat in Toronto and a great little house in LA, just to name a few.

This time we rented a cottage at East Fork Farm and totally unplugged. We took walks along the property to look at the sheep and cattle. We were constantly greeted by the friendliest cats and the largest most playful dog (who I nick-named "the polar bear"). They had a farm store on the property where they sold locally milled grits, raw local honey, handmade soaps, free range eggs from the chickens on the farm, and local meat from pasture raised animals.

But if you ask me... the best part of our stay was the private outdoor Japanese style cedar soak tubs. There is nothing quite like cold weather outside and a nice hot steamy soak tub waiting for you. We would enjoy the tub late at night and marveled at the stars, and again in the morning with a cup of coffee in tow.

If you have the desire to visit, I would highly recommend this farm. It was just 30 minutes from Asheville, 45 minutes from some of the most famous hiking in NC, 45 minutes from the steepest and fastest zipline course in North America anddddd just 45 minutes from apple picking! Yes. We picked so many apples.

By using my link you get $40 off your first Airbnb stay of your choice!